Light, Camera....and Love.

I love being challenged on how I think and be able to take another perspective on issues that I think about a lot. Today was one such day. I met with my mentor/friend who challenges me so much every time I meet with her. She got to the core of the issue and lovingly confront me on how I love people. I told her I was struggling with the whole idea of loving certain people and she pointed to the story about the prostitute who was dragged by the pharisees to Jesus. Jesus didn't condemn the prostitute and stun the pharisees by asking them if they are without sin. It was one of those light bulb moments when I realized who am I to judge and am I not doing the same things the pharisee was doing to the prostitute if I have hard time loving people who are "sinners". So much to chew on and really look at who am I loving on. Am I only loving on people who are just like me or am I loving everyone like how Jesus loved? Jesus loved people deeply and gave us what true love look like. I think today's meeting was time of humbling me and I am so grateful for my mentor/friend who let me come to realization about how I live my life. I think I have been so hung up about the little things, I am missing the bigger picture of loving people. One question that sticks out to me most is how can I love someone when I cannot accept the whole person's identity? I have much to learn about love and need a lot of help from Jesus. I want to be more like Jesus and to love people as He did. What would this world look like if everyone loved each other as ourselves and stop thinking about just about ourselves? There wouldn't be all this pain and suffering people go through if everyone loved each other. Maybe, if one person loves another person truly and that becomes a chain reaction, then, that would be just amazing! "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." John 3:16-17. God loved us so much and sent His Son to save us, not to condemn us, so who am I to condemn? I want to live a life of love and not bring judgment on people who may have different way of living then I do. I give it all to Jesus and I want Him to reign in me. Love surpasses all wrongs and embraces us just as we are. Thanks for reading and may Christ's love dwell richly in you!

God is ... Love

This last weekend, Craig Groeschel, pastor of LifeChurch.tv delivered the message on God is...Love. It's true, I heard all my life that God loved me but I'm not sure half of that time I heard that I truly believed it. Lately, all I can think about is how can a great God love me. I am amazed by His Grace and I don't think I truly understand how much God loves me. God loves each and every one of us that He would send His One and Only son to experience death and cleanse of our sins. God loves us so much that He came down to earth and became one of us. I think that God gives His Grace and Love to us and it is up to us either to accept it or decline it. My life without Him would contain chaos and fear. Even in the dry season when I feel like God is in the distant and I am at my worst, I know that He is with me through it all. Who am I that He would call me His own? I think I would be the smallest in the Kingdom of God if there ever was one. I constantly fail in loving my neighbor as myself and I am not sure I am loving my enemies as Jesus commended. I want to love like Jesus and follow hard after Him. To deny myself and take up His cross. Can I do that? Not on my own power but with His, I can. How do you see God? My God is Love and He loves me just for who I am. Grazie Signore. May Christ love dwell abundantly in your heart! Thanks for reading! :)

All Things New...

Yesterday was my first day of my new job and I also went to Hillsong United concert that I needed. I really love the Hillsong United's heart that it's not about the show but about encountering God by worshipping Him in singing the songs. Lately, I am just so amazed by His Grace and how can a Great God love us, sinners. Christ died for us and He died for me, smallest of all. I feel so minuscule and sometimes I wonder how can God use a person like me in this world, but He does. He is using me constantly even when I don't realize He is using me. For instance, my story is His story. Whenever I tell people about why I look the way I do and the joy that fills my heart, it's all Him. He's my reason for living and being here in DC. I can't imagine not having Him in my heart. Past weekend, Pastor Mark spoke about God is ... Spirit and I am still chewing on that. I think sometimes we as Christian forget about the Holy Spirit and I think I am coming to learn that I need the Holy Spirit in my life. God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit. I thirst and hunger for His coming. There's so many people who are searching for something to fill the longing they have. I wish with all my heart that they will stop searching because the answer is right in front of them; but who am I to say stop the search, I can't. More I read the Bible, more I become intrigued and in awe of God. His Love is beyond all measures and so amazing. I fail. I stumble. I am imperfect. However, His Grace has pick me up from the dirt and He whispers that He loves me just as I am. How can I keep on sinning when we have a God who loves us first? So many questions and thoughts to ponder. May God fill you with His love and may you experience His Grace. Thanks for reading!